At Charing Cross Hospital in Hammersmith , doctors and health care professionals gathered outside and chanted against the new contracts put forward by Mr Hunt, which include an average pay rise of 13.5% but no additional pay for "unsociable hours".

Meanwhile, a huge march has been planned from St Thomas' Hospital near Westminster Bridge where supporters of junior doctors are being asked to join them.

Large numbers of junior doctors have already gathered outside the teaching hospital to show their solidarity.

Similar scenes can be seen at Ealing hospital, where around 50 junior doctors took action.

Junior doctor Joel Schamroth, 28, who was one of the 50, told getwestlondon: "I feel the strike is absolutely neccessary.

"No doctor wants to strike but the fact that we have had to take such extreme action shows how severe the situation is.